Work Text:
Shane stepped into the lovely aroma of curry, rice, and vegetable soup. The window was open; noises from the street wandered into his apartment. The sight of Evangeline stood between daylight and him. For a moment the sight of her bled all over the floor – the promise of warmth, the untouchable safety of childhood, stained golden.
“Shane? You’re back already?” She said without looking up. “Food will be done soon. Could you help me set the table?”
He made his way into the sink and discovered all his bowls were waiting to be washed. He sighed and filled the sink up with hot, soapy water. His arms were sore from practice, but the hot porcelain grounded him.
Today’s curry had a sweet undertone. A new kind of carrot Evangeline’s lab had been working on. Shane still couldn’t believe you could go to college for farming. (“It’s Agricultural Sciences.” Evangeline protested.) It felt like home came with him to Zuzu City whenever she brought “classwork” for him to taste test.
“This is the only time I eat veggies.” He joked as he downed the spinach & tomato soup. “You should see the look I get every time I eat at the dining hall.”
She laughed, delighted. “You guys are cold benching the nutritionists.”
Shane shrugged. “Yeah? What are they gonna do about it?”
Evangeline replied with something immaterial. She was suddenly distracted by the tightness of his muscles moving under his shirt. She blinked and looked away immediately.
“……should meet Maya. She said she also likes to cook.” Shane’s voice filtered back into her consciousness. He gave her a mischievous look, so Evangeline played along:
“Wow, I didn’t know supermodels ate. Good for her though – she looks absolutely stunning.”
She threw in a compliment, like a childhood best friend would. Seemingly candid, as if his dating life was really a non-issue to her.
On the way home, she reminded herself: don’t ruin anything.
Their guardians were neighbors. They would have to see each other back home, every year for the rest of their lives. Don’t be one of those girls.
Even though she was just one of those girls.
Friday night was “date” night – as in going out with girlfriends and looking for a date. Evangeline tried extra hard today with her dress, curly blond hair, and classy make up that brightened her green eyes. She looked sort of captivating but not sexy. She tugged at the neckline, tried to show more of her breast, and still it wasn’t sexy.
Yes, she knew some guys were into sweet. But she wanted to look less sweet, let like the girl who spent six days a week at the lab and went to cat cafes when things got stressful. She wanted to be electric – like Maya’s magazine covers. Overtly exciting, mystically appealing, and full of promise.
Evangeline imagined Shane kissing Maya. How her high heels and sheer dress would scatter across his apartment. How their perfect bodies would look in bed.
For a moment, she wanted to break her perfumes and smear her lipstick all over the mirror.